Cambridge [1] is a university city in Cambridgeshire in England. It's a city of crocuses and daffodils on the Backs, of green open spaces and cattle grazing only 500 yards from the market square... The Cambridge of Brooke, Byron, Newton and Rutherford, of the summer idyll of punts, 'bumps', cool willows and May Balls. In guidebooks Cambridge is generally rated amongst the top tourist destinations in England.

Understand

View of King's College Chapel, seen from St Johns College chapel.

Cambridge brings many images to mind: the breathtaking view of King's College Chapel from across the river Cam, the rich intricacy of Gothic architecture, students cycling to lectures, and lazy summer punting on the River Cam.

Cambridge manages to combine its role as an historic city with a world-renowned University and, in more recent years, an internationally acknowledged center of excellence for technology and science. The University of Cambridge was founded in the 13th century by monks who wished to escape the hurly-burly of Oxford and chose the quiet town of Cambridge as a suitable location for study. In the 17th century Cambridge University educated many of the founders of a (then) minor American university called Harvard, also located in a place called Cambridge).

Cambridge University has been the home of many famous scientists, philosophers and mathematicians from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking and was the site of Rutherford's pioneering work in nuclear physics as well as Crick and Watson's DNA work (see the Eagle pub below). Cambridge academics have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other university in the world. The rumor that just one college - Trinity - had more Nobel prize winners than France, however, is not true [2].

The City is surrounded on all sides by heritage villages, towns and ancient monuments (such as Ely, Peterborough and Grantchester), all within easy travelling distance.

More than 3½ million visitors come to Cambridge every year to savour the delights of the historic city itself, as well as using it as an ideal base for exploring some of the gentlest and most unspoiled countryside in England.

Get in

Kings Parade, Cambridge

Cambridge is a mere 50 miles (80 km) north of London - with good rail services and road communication links, Cambridge is easily accessible, whether travelling by car, or by public transport.

By plane

Cambridge is within easy reach of all of London's international airports. London Stansted is 30 miles away, for example, from where there are regular bus and rail services into Cambridge. London Stansted and London Luton airports offer many of the cheapest international flights to be found in Europe, with many of the big low-cost European airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair and HLX having a hub at one of these two airports.

By train

Regular trains run from London (King's Cross and Liverpool Street) to Cambridge. The fastest "Cambridge Cruiser" services to King's Cross take under 50 minutes, slower stopping trains may take up to 90 minutes. The train station is situated south of the center, there are regular buses into town and a taxi rank outside the station. Trains also run to and from Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough and Birmingham.

Direct trains from Stansted airport to Cambridge take 25 minutes (catch trains going in the direction of Birmingham). It is often necessary to change at Bishop's Stortford, which can make the journey time substantially longer.

By cycle

Cambridge is easily accessible by cycle. National Cycle Network routes 11 and 51 both pass through Cambridge. Within the city cycling is a common means of getting around.

By car

Parking can be difficult in central Cambridge and the one way street system is extremely confusing. The Council recommends the use of the "Park and Ride" scheme (Free parking and a £1.80 bus fare, or better still, £2.70 for a day pass, a DayRider, which will allow you unlimited travel on any Citi bus within Cambridge city all day)
(map of Park and Ride routes).

Cambridge is connected to London primarily by the M11 or the A10 (the latter having speed cameras). From the north, come off the A1 onto the A14. The speed limit on motorways is 70mph.

By bus

The bus station is on Drummer Street, conveniently located for all the main sights - however, be aware that the City Council is intending to move its location. Jetlink airport buses serving Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick and Brighton leave hourly. National Express[3] provides bus links to major cities around the country.

Get around

Cambridge is mostly pedestrian-friendly - most sights can be easily reached on foot and much of the central area is traffic-free. Students and locals often use bikes to get around and hiring a bike[4] is a viable alternative to simply walking. You can also opt for a hop-on, hop-off open-top sightseeing bus which provides commentary in several languages. There shouldn't be much need to use the local bus services[5] unless you're staying in a far-flung area of the city, but they are clean and efficient if you need to.

Cambridge City Council are extremely anti-car. Parking charges are horrendous and the city is home to a system of rising bollards which allow vehicles with appropriate transponders (e.g., taxis, buses, emergency vehicles) through, but which are designed to cause severe damage to any other vehicles - to the point of writing them off.

See

Focus on Architecture
Cambridge, especially the various colleges and university buildings, is fascinating for people with an interest in architecture. The colleges have been built sporadically over the centuries and the result is a mixture of styles both ancient and modern. Although the modern architecture is sometimes controversial, especially in how the newer buildings (fail to) harmonise with adjacent older buildings, it is in its way as interesting as the older. A tour of the backs (see above) gives the visitor a good feel for the various styles and a few small diversions add to the experience. One obvious landmark is the tower of the University Library. The library was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also built the Bankside Power Station in London that is now the Tate Modern. It does have a very industrial feel to it perhaps because of this. On the far side of the library the curious can see Robinson College, the newest college and built in about 1980 and one of the few pieces of modern architecture in Cambridge that has no notable old buildings nearby.

St John's College and Magdalene College also have a number of architectural treats. As well as the Bridge of Sighs, St John's has buildings in almost every style of architecture starting with the 16th century hall in First Court and ending up with the extremely modern Cripps building. Near the Cripps building there is also the dramatic New Court built in the early 19th century and the School of Pythagoras, one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge which dates from the early 13th century.

Next door Magdalene College - cognoscenti know that Magdalene is accessible from the back of the Cripps building - is quite a contrast. Unlike St John's, which consists mainly of buildings designed originally as college accommodation, Magdalene has converted a number of old half-timbered inns as some of its accommodation. Magdalene also possesses the Lutyens building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the Pepys building. The latter, which houses the Pepys library, has an imposing and almost symmetrical facade and looks completely different from the rear. The ugliest Magdalene building, the 1970s Buckingham Court, is fortunately well hidden, while across the river the Magdalene Quayside development (1990) is an excellent example of how the late century architects appear to have learned subtlety and harmony. Quayside is an excellent place to rent a punt.

Cambridge has a number of interesting modern buildings : The Maths Department

Colleges

King's College and King's College Chapel[6], King's Parade, 01223 331212. College grounds open term-time M-F 9.30AM-3.30PM, Sa 9.30AM-3.15PM, Su 1.15PM-2.15PM and 5PM-5.30PM (summer only). Out of term M-Sa 9.30AM-4.30PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Grounds closed during exams (late April to mid June) though Chapel is open. Chapel opening times vary, ring for details. The most visited attraction in Cambridge, the architecture of King's College Chapel towers above the town and its world-famous choir have spread its reputation across the globe. £4.50 adults, £3 children/students.

Queens' College[7], Silver Street/Queens' Lane, 01223 335511. Open approx 10AM-4.30PM, see website or ring for updated times. Closed mid-May to mid-June. Founded by two Queens - Margaret of Anjou in 1448 and Elizabeth Woodville in 1465, the College stretches across both sides of the Cam, linked by the famous Mathematical Bridge. The myth goes that it was designed by Isaac Newton without the use of pins, screws, nuts or bolts, but when disassembled, the fellows and students couldn't figure out how to put it back together again. This is sadly false, the bridge dates from 1749, 22 years after Newton's death. The stunning medieval Old Hall is also worth a visit. £1.30 (includes printed guide). Free mid-October to mid-March.

St Johns College[9]: Formally the St Johns Hospital (13th century) before being refounded as a college in 1511, this college houses the oldest academic building in Cambridge (the "School of Pythagoras"). It has a number of large courtyards, and has the Cambridge "Bridge of Sighs".

Saint Catharine's College[12]: St Catharine's College was founded in 1473 by Robert Wodelarke, Provost of King’s College. The College was christened in honour of the patron saint of learning and was originally known as Katharine Hall. It was largely rebuilt in the 17th century with work on the Main Court beginning in 1673; the Chapel was completed in 1704. It is worthwhile to note that the College is renown for its academic and athletic excellence. In spite of its modest size, the college’s three-sided brick Main Court is almost unique among Cambridge Colleges and deserves a short stop while strolling down Trumpington Street. The College is located in the very centre of Cambridge next to King's College and facing Corpus Christi College.

Parks and Gardens

The Backs. The gardens by the river behind various colleges. Heading downstream from Kings you can pass through the gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John's Colleges (which has the "Bridge of Sighs").

Botanic Garden of Cambridge University. A relaxing way to spend a few hours, away from the hustle and bustle of the colleges and canals. Open to the public since 1846 this garden hosts some important botanic collections amongst its 10,000 or more species. Adult admission £2.50, free Mon-Fri in winter (November through February). Open 10am-4pm Nov-Jan, 10am-5pm Feb and Oct, 10am-6pm Mar-Oct, closed 25 Dec to 3 Jan. ph 012 2333 6265, Bateman St CB2 1JF. [13]

Museums and Galleries

The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge and is located on Trumpington Street. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. The museum was founded in 1816 with the bequest of the library and art collection of the VIIth Viscount FitzWilliam. The bequest also included £100,000 "to cause to be erected a good substantial museum repository". The "Founder's Building" itself was designed by George Basevi, completed by C. R. Cockerell and opened in 1848; the entrance hall is by Edward Middleton Barry and was completed in 1875. The Egyptian Galleries at the Fitzwilliam Museum re-opened in 2006 after a two-year, £1.5 million programme of refurbishment, conservation and research.
The museum has five departments: Antiquities; Applied Arts; Coins and Medals; Manuscripts and Printed Books; and Paintings, Drawings and Prints. Together these cover antiquities from Ancient Egypt, Sudan, Greece and Rome, Roman and Romano-Egyptian Art, Western Asiatic displays and a new gallery of Cypriot Art; applied arts, including English and European pottery and glass, furniture, clocks, fans, armour, Chinese, Japanese and Korean art, rugs and samplers; coins and medals; illuminated, literary and music manuscripts and rare printed books; paintings, including masterpieces by Simone Martini, Domenico Veneziano, Titian, Veronese, Rubens, Van Dyck, Frans Hals, Canaletto, Hogarth, Gainsborough, Constable, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne and Picasso and a fine collection of 20th century art; miniatures, drawings, watercolours and prints. Many items in the museum are on loan from colleges of the University, for example an important group of impressionist paintings owned by King's College, which includes Cézanne's 'The Abduction' and a study for 'Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte' by Seurat.The Museum's collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings includes Ford Madox Brown's 'The Last of England', voted 8th greatest painting in Britain in 2005's Radio 4 poll.
Current exhibitions include:

Mission Impossible? Ethics and Choices in Conservation, Sat 1 July 2006 to Sun 24 September 2006Heroes of Kabuki: The Jesus College Gift of Japanese Prints, Tue 23 May 2006 to Sun 24 September 2006Albrecht Altdorfer in Renaissance Regensburg: Prints of Allegory and Devotion,Tue 11 July 2006 to Sun 5 November 2006

One of the University's many hidden treasures, and actually its oldest museum, the Sedgwick is packed full of fossils with more than 1 million in its collection. These range from the earliest forms of life from more than 3000 million years ago, to the wildlife that roamed the Fens less than 150,000 years ago. The museum was built in memory of Adam Sedgwick and started with Dr John Woodward's bequest of his fossil collection in 1728 (still on display in its original cabinets).
Displays include a gallery of minerals and gemstones, the world's largest spider, rocks collected by Charles Darwin on the 'Voyage of the Beagle', dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Triassic, and fossils from the local area including a hippopotamus from the nearby Barrington gravel pits.
The museum organises many activities, so it's always a good idea to check its website.

The University Museum of Zoology displays a great range of recent and fossil animals, emphasising the structural diversity and evolutionary relationships among the animal kingdom. The collections were accumulated from 1814 onwards, and include many specimens collected by Charles Darwin. They are now housed in a spacious modern building on two floors. The lower gallery presents a striking array of mammals, many as mounted skeletons which are appreciated as much by art students as biologists. This gallery also houses a near-comprehensive display of British birds. The upper gallery houses systematic displays of the major animal groups, exhibits that trace the origin and evolution of land vertebrates (not just dinosaurs!), and a notable collection of beautiful shells. To find the museum, look for the spectacular whale skeleton, hung above the entrance and visible through the archway from Downing Street.

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science[17], Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Free School Lane, just off Pembroke Street, 01223 330906. Monday to Friday 12.30pm - 4.30pm. Closed at weekends, bank holidays and occasionally over the Christmas period. Visitors are advised to check beforehand by contacting the Museum. Admission free.

The Whipple Museum is a pre-eminent collection of scientific instruments and models, dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Included in this outstanding collection are microscopes and telescopes, sundials, early slide rules, pocket electronic calculators, laboratory equipment and teaching and demonstration apparatus.

The Main Gallery of the Museum is housed in a large hall with Elizabethan hammer-beam roof-trusses, built in 1618 as the first Cambridge Free School. Other galleries include discover which displays a wide array of scientific instruments, the Victorian Parlour, with plenty of handling activities for children, and the Reserve Gallery, which is open during school holidays. The Museum is part of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science and plays an important role in the Department's teaching and research.

Kettle's Yard is the former home of Jim and Helen Ede and houses the fine collection of art, from the early part of this century, which they gave to the University. Artists represented include Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis, David Jones, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.

There is a separate gallery for exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, which are widely advertised and detailed on the website. Each exhibition is accompanied by a lively programme of talks, workshops and discussion groups for all ages.

Music at Kettle's Yard: Kettle's Yard presents programmes of chamber music concerts and contemporary music concerts.

The website contains a wealth of information, be sure to check it before planning a visit!

The Museum contains large and important collections of archaeological and anthropological material from all parts of the world. The archaeological collections from all periods include significant collections from Palaeolithic Europe, Asia and Africa; Precolumbian Central and South America; early civilizations of the Mediterranean; and British archaeology. The world-renowned anthropological collections include important collections from the South Seas, West Africa and the Northwest Coast of North America; historic collections from the 18th century; and extensive photographic collections from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Do

Punting. 9/10am-dusk daily. If anything is stereotypically 'Cambridge', this must be it. Punting involves propelling yourself in a long wooden boat by pushing a pole against the shallow river bottom. For the full effect, take strawberries and champagne to quaff as you glide effortlessly down the river. You can either travel along the Backs or head out towards the village of Grantchester. Guided tours are also available, but self-hire is more fun (Scudamore's). £12 per hour per punt, £14 at weekends. A deposit (e.g. a credit card) is required. In fact if you turn up in the summer you'll find it hard not to go punting as touts assail you from all sides in the streets. For a look at the evolution of punting in Cambridge consult [21]

ADC Theater, Park Street, [22]. The University's playhouse. Hosts student and local amateur productions. Look out for performances by Footlights, this has been the training ground for many famous comedians. Tickets £4-10.

There are a large number of summer schools, mostly English language, but also those offering tuition in a wide range of other subjects.

Work

Cambridge University students aren't allowed to work during term-time, so there are often possibilities for bar or waitering work for foreign nationals. Those from outside the EU require a work permit, see the Work section of United Kingdom for more details.

Eat

Budget

Rainbow Cafe[31], 9A Kings Parade, Tel: 01223 321 551, open Mo-Sa 11am-11pm Average Price: £12 (Meal with beverage) - Virtually the only place in Cambridge to get vegan food. Also caters to a whole range of dietary requirements. The food is very tasty, imaginative fare.

CB2 Internet Bistro5-7 Norfolk Street, Email: cb2@cb1.com, Sun to Sat: 12:00-00:00 Average price: £10 - Similar to CB1 (see Drink), but larger, this place serves high quality international cuisine for a modest price.

Fitzbillies[33]51 Trumpington Street, Tel: 0870 1413505, Sun: 12:00-17:45 and Mon to Sat: 09:00-21:30 Average Price: Varies depending on whether you go there for lunch, tea, or dinner - Fitzbillies is a Cambridge institution serving refined food for lunches and dinners, as well as heavenly tea and pastries in the afternoon. Don't forget its adjacent shop selling the best pastries in town, amongst which you will find the world famous Chelsea Bun!

Splurge

Arundal House Hotel Bar & RestaurantChesterton Road - Confortable, elegantly furnished bar and restaurant conveniant if you are staying north of the river.

Midsummer HouseMidsummer Common Tel: 0870 1416395 - Mon: Closed; Tue to Thu: 19:00-21:30; Fri to Sat: 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:30 Average Price: £50+ - By far Cambridge's finest restaurant and one of only ten British restaurants to have earned two stars from the Michelin guide.

Drink

Pubs

Cambridge has a colossal number of pubs, over 110 at the last count. The Cambridge Pub Guide has further information and reviews of the pubs within and near the city.

Fort St George[34], Midsummer Common - been there for hundreds of years, overlooks the Cam and Midsummer Common. IPA £2.30, Stella £2.75, large glass of wine £3. Also one of the best places in town for a pub lunch!

Pickerel Inn, Magdelene Street - claims to be the oldest pub in Cambridge.

The Eagle, Benet Street - Watson and Crick were regulars here whilst in the process of unravelling the secrets of DNA.

The Regal, St Andrews Street - belongs to the Wetherspoons group and is supposedly the largest pub in Europe, it was previously a cinema. A freehouse, it serves one of the biggest selections of real ale in the town. Refurbished in Spring 2004. Guest ales £1.30, Stella £1.99.

The Free Press, 7 Prospect Row - Smoking is not permitted. Garden outside. Mobile phone use is also not allowed, making this a pleasant quiet pub.

The Champion of the Thames, King Street - old style pub in the centre of town with a blazing fireplace in the winter.

The Mill, Mill Lane - cosy in the winter, bustling in the summer, this pub offers a refined selection of real ale.

The Granta, Newnham Road - a large terrace looks out on the river and surrounding nature. Popular during the summer, this pub serves excellent food, and rents out punts and canoes.

Clubs

KamBar, 1 Wheeler Street, CB2 3QB - Only Indie Club in the city centre, opens @ 2200 and closes really late. Great Time!

Cafes

CB1, Mill Road[35] - a bohemian café with book-lined walls, good affordable coffee, half-price refills, and friendly staff. To make things even better there's free Wi-Fi (see section 12.2). This place is open everyday from 10a.m. until 8p.m. and tends to get crowded in the afternoon.

Contact

By telephone

By internet

There are a few cybercafes in Cambridge:

CB1, 32 Mill Road: has both free Wi-Fi and reasonably priced PCs.

La Pronto, 2 Emmanuel Street (central).

Netbar, The Forum, Jesus Lane.

The public library in Lion Yard provides access for free but you need to register as a library member (You would need TWO proofs of ID, one of your person such as a passport, ID card or photographical driving licence and one of your address such as a utility bill, bank statement or an official letter from a council)

Stay safe

If you have a bike, keep it locked up with a strong D-lock, as cycle theft is big business.

Even if Cambridge is one of the safest cities in the UK, you should still use your common-sense at night and be careful in badly-lit areas outside the city centre; Parker's Piece has seen a few cases of mugging, but the situation has greatly improved.

The police station is on Parkside, (01223) 358966. The city's Accident and Emergency department is located at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Hills Road, south of the city centre.

Get out

Grantchester: Take a day trip to enjoy the countryside and have scones and tea at The Orchard. With a long history of famous patrons such as Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, EM Forster and Bertrand Russell, taking tea in The Orchard is a well established tradition. This large garden planted with apple trees is perfect for lounging on a deck chair in the sun with a cup of tea and a scone for sustenance. Prepare for long queues on sunny days, but regardless of the numbers there's always room in the garden. The Orchard: 45-47 Mill Way, Grantchester CB3 9ND Tel: 01223 845788. open 10:30-18:30 Sun-Sat.

Grantchester also contains four pubs - the Red Lion and the Green Man are closest to the river bank, and the Rupert Brooke and Blue Ball are to the right (Cambridge direction) along the main street of the village.

Alternatively, If you prefer a picnic, it is possible to hire a punt and picnic hamper from Granta Punt Hire and travel up the river to Grantchester. Punting to Grantchester (upriver) takes about an hour for an experienced punter, and the complete journey would be difficult for first-timers, although there are various riverbanks on the way suitable for mooring. (Note that pranksters have been known to push unattended punts out into the river.)

Ely: Market town, with impressive Cathedral towering above the Fens (Ely actually used to be an island): regular trains and buses (12)

World War II Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial[42]: Three miles west of the city on Highway A-1303. Open daily except for December 25 and January 1; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cemetery is on land donated by Cambridge University and is the final resting place for 3,812 American military dead lost during the War in the Atlantic and Northern Europe. A monument is inscribed with the names of 5,126 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. The chapel contains mosaic maps of World War II campaigns and a mosaic memorial to American Air Forces on the ceiling. Free.

Duxford Imperial War Museum This old airfield south of Cambridge has been converted into a museum of aviation, mostly based on military planes, but they do possess an old Concorde. As well as this, there is a land warfare museum attached that has many examples of armoured vehicles from the First World War onwards. It really needs a full day for a proper visit.

This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star!